WASHINGTON - Fellow Democrats pointedly refused to defend U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner on Tuesday, telegraphing an unmistakable eagerness for him to resign after he admitted sending a lewd photo of himself to a woman via Twitter and lying about it.
Republicans swiftly sought political profit from the New York Democrat's predicament, which threatened to deepen when conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart said he had a sexually explicit photo of the 46-year-old congressman.
His political career in extreme jeopardy, Weiner had no public appearances. His spokesman did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
On Monday, after days of denials, the New York lawmaker admitted he had engaged in "several inappropriate conversations conducted over Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with women I had met online."
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Alternately apologetic and defiant, he said he neither met nor had physical relationships with any of them, and added, "I am not resigning."
In fact, there is little that party leaders can do to force an errant lawmaker to quit.
Most Democrats maintained an uncomfortable silence about Weiner's future, part of what several senior congressional officials described as a hope that over a few days, Weiner would reconsider his refusal to resign. If not, several noted pointedly, his district might be eliminated when lines are adjusted before the 2012 elections to account for a population shift that will cost New York two House seats.
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid broke the silence.
"I wish there were some way that I can defend him, but I can't," the Nevada Democrat told reporters. Asked what he would do if Weiner called for advice, he replied he would tell him, "Call somebody else."
Republicans sought political gain.
"Congressman Weiner's actions and deception are unacceptable, and he should resign," GOP Chairman Reince Priebus said in a written statement.
"We do not need an investigation to know he lied and acted inappropriately; we need a resignation," he said, referring to a request from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for the House Ethics Committee to investigate the case.
Leaders of the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday issued their first statement about Weiner but did not announce an investigation is under way.
Meanwhile, Breitbart, the conservative blogger, said he had not yet released a sexually explicit photo taken of the congressman unclothed. He said he would consider releasing the picture if he concludes that Weiner's staff tries to disparage any of the women with whom the congressman flirted online.
"Under the circumstances that those women that he's had these consensual relationships, that their personal information would start to be leaked from his team, I would strongly consider releasing the photo if he wants to make this an attack on these innocent women," he said.
